Cell Phone Company Claims to Save Battery Power with FM Transmission Harvesting Device

A company recently was awarded a patent with their new technology to harvest unused FM transmissions on cellphones.

While cell phones are supposedly 'wireless', due to sufficient battery capacity and power-intensive apps, cell phones are all too often tethered to a charger. However, a new company is aiming to increase battery life by integrating an antenna that picks up on unused FM transmissions, and then converts them back into reusable energy.

Cell phones function by receiving and sending codes over a cellular network. However, a cell phone will continue to transmit even when you are not knowingly sending any data. Radient, a micro-tech company is seeking to reduce gargantuan battery consumption with their new patented antenna that recycles expended energy.

While the company vaguely addresses the method in doing so, they report

"We are FIRST to patent the concept to repurpose a cell phone’s surface into an energy harvesting antenna to absorb and reuse its own wasted radiated power to extend battery life. This will reduces battery size/cost by $0.5 ~ $1.00 per phone."

The company also lays claims saying their product will not only reduce battery consumption but also trickle charge the battery to dramatically extend the power. As reported, the device will be able to increase the battery life for Military and EMS communication Radios

The device will likely use the minute but highly concentrated FM signal and utilize the variant intensities to create a magnetic field which in turn creates a small amount of electricity. While FM charging is not a new feature, this device capitalizes on the inefficiencies of wasted signals. However, it remains unclear how the company will differentiate signals and capture the waves without disrupting used cellular transmissions. Also, the minute electric field created within the antenna will have to successfully complete studies confirming the trickle charge recycling approach will suffice as a reasonable battery save.

The proposed system will be integrated into various devices where an antenna will automatically pick up on signals. Once transmitted to the antenna, an electric charge will be created that will be directed towards the battery, perhaps saving upwards of 60% of the charge. However, the antenna will only be able to retain some signals. As the signals propagate across a room or outdoor area, the magnitude of potential power drops off dramatically, restricting the device to only entrap localized signals.

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Although, should the device prove to be useful in restoring battery life, perhaps the device could be used across many platforms to restore energy wherever there is wasted energy.

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